Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-05-12
THE HEALTH OF THE STATE.
Report and Remarks Upon the Subject
by DIR. G. G. Tyrrell.

VI A<A
Report and Remarks Upon the Subject
by DIR. G. G. Tyrrell.
DIR. G. 6. Tyrrell, Sec rotary of the State
Board of Health has the following to say
relative to the health of the State during
the month of April and concerning dis
eases
The mortality for the month OF April, as
reported from sixty-four cities and towns,
with an estimated population of 5S0,35O.
was 100, or at the rate of 3 per thousand
per month-same percentage as last month,
and continued indication of the absence
of epidemic disease.
Reports received from eighty-six locali-
ties in various parts of the State continue
to show a very gratifying condition OF the
public health. The meteorological reports
show an atmospheric condition favorable
to those suffering from pulmonary disease,
hence the marked decrease in the preva-
lence of pneumonia, bronchitis and kindred
affections.
Smallpox, we are pleased to learn, Is
now, most probably, effectually repressed
in Los Angeles and vicinity, by the united
efforts of the medical profession and the
immediate and decisive measures taken by
the State Board of Health-by its advice
being promptly accepted and acted upon by
the Mayor and county authorities, and dill
gently and successfully carried into opera
ton by the unremitting attention and ex-
ecutive ability of the Health Officer, DR..
NJ. Hagan, and his assistant There is no
doubt whatever that if vaccination, as adj
vised by this Board, had not been syste-
matically enforced, severe epidemic of
smallpox would have decimated the city.
The further precaution taken by the State
Board, in having all trains leaving the in
fected district inspected by competent medi-
cal officers, undoubtedly confined the dis
ease within limited area, and prevented
its dissemination throughout the State,
thus saving hundreds of lives and thou
sands if not millions of dollars. No new
cases of smallpox have appeared in Los
Angeles for three weeks, and those lately
affected are convalescent. In San Diego
there were seven cases in the hospital, but
they are now convalescent. One case ap-
peared in Cucamonga, but is also GONZALES
cent. There were.three cases of small-p ox
developed in San Francisco, from the
steamer City of Sydney, which were
promptly quarantined in the Smallpox
Hospital, and no extension of the disease is
apprehended. These cases comprise all
that are known to exist in the State.
Cholera is reported in Panama. 1t there
fore becomes the duty of the State Board of
Health to utter note of warning to all
and impress upon the community that the
only real safeguard against cholera is per-
tect cleanliness of person, habitation and
surroundings, pure water and pure air.
Any constant exposure of the person TO
smells, be they pleasant or unpleasant, is
deleterious to health. by tending to reduc-
| ton of the vital powers and thus becoming
| the precursors of disease. Nature exacts
| the utmost penalty for infractions of the
| laws of health, and no amount of ignor-
ance is ever accepted by her as a reason
why the infraction of these laws should
not be followed by their natural conse-
quences. The history of cholera in Europe
has convincingly shown that ii is in insan-
| itary places that the disease has invariably
| prevailed, those places kept scrupulously
clean entirely escaping. We must see that
our drains, sewers, cesspools and outhouses
are thoroughly cleansed and purified, as
| foul air from such sources has been drawn
into houses from great distances. Dr. F.
| De Chaumont relates case where foul air
from cesspool was sucked into house a
distance of twenty-seven feet. We cannot,
| therefore be too careful to have all snch
| sources of pollution removed and their
receptacles disinfected. We trust Health
Boards and Health Officers will heed this
warning, as danger is imminent and we
cannot afford to give such fatal disease as
cholera any advantage Remember. its
prevention is almost assured by perfect
sanitation; its advent is solicited by filth.
decomposition and defilement of every de-
scription. 1t is enormously supposed that
cholera cannot exist where the temperature
is not over 700 and the nights are cool
This fallacy, if believed, may lead to disas-
trous consequences, as it is well known
that cool, or even cold nights, will not kill
the bacilli of cholera. 1t prevailed in Mos
COW with a temperature of 10 Fahrenheit
and in Orenberg it was epidemic with 8
| temperature of 22o Fahrenheit. In fact
| the history of cholera has proven that eli.
matte influences play but a secondary part
in the development of the disease, and that
it has prevailed with destructive virulence
in many parts of the world where the
temperature is many degrees below that
| found in Southern or Central California
Extreme cold may for time retard the
proliferation of the cholera germ, but does
| not kill it. If cholera once gains admission
into our State, any reliance placed upon
such safeguards as temperate days and COO
nights, instead of temperate living anG
clean dwellings, will be ruthlessly and
rapidly dispelled.